EcoRenovator - View Single Post - A 13 watt CFL uses a lot more power than what it claims.

oil pan 4 · 03-25-14, 12:47 PM

Most CFL say they use 13 or 11 watts or what ever.
But what they dont tell you is that they run 0.5 to 0.65 power factor.
They use might use 13 watts but what they dont tell you is they around 23 volt-amps.
Now I have seen it said many times that "residential utility meters only read true power, aka wattage", yet I am able to prove other wise with a very simple test.
See :
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/36999-post7.html
A low power factor is bad for the power grid and bad power factor can produce resonance in your home power wiring which can cause problems with other electronics.
Plus when you run a higher power factor inductive devices use less power over all.
So in reality the metter is getting spun as if you are using a 23watt bulb, not a 13.

So much for being more efficient, they consume close to double the power they say and cause problems down the line.

03-25-14, 12:47 PM	#1
oil pan 4 Land owner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NM Posts: 1,026 Thanks: 12 Thanked 127 Times in 107 Posts	A 13 watt CFL uses a lot more power than what it claims. Most CFL say they use 13 or 11 watts or what ever. But what they dont tell you is that they run 0.5 to 0.65 power factor. They use might use 13 watts but what they dont tell you is they around 23 volt-amps. Now I have seen it said many times that "residential utility meters only read true power, aka wattage", yet I am able to prove other wise with a very simple test. See : http://ecorenovator.org/forum/36999-post7.html A low power factor is bad for the power grid and bad power factor can produce resonance in your home power wiring which can cause problems with other electronics. Plus when you run a higher power factor inductive devices use less power over all. So in reality the metter is getting spun as if you are using a 23watt bulb, not a 13. So much for being more efficient, they consume close to double the power they say and cause problems down the line.